Installation Guide

HARDWOOD FLOORING
INSTALLATION
FINISHING TOUCHES CONTINUED
will have the plank grooves going into the tongues of the ooring
already down in the rst row). Keep in mind that locking together
the tongue and groove requires the same method of adding glue
to the tongue and groove as mentioned above. Be sure to use a
tapping block to tap the planks together to make sure they are
snug. Continue to lay the planks in this manner.
Note: For the nal row you will likely need to cut the planks along the
length of the planks so that the width ts in the space (accounting for
the necessary expansion gap at the wall). Also a pull bar should be
used to ensure the nal row is tight to the second to last row.
Tips:
• Stretch tight and stick low adhesion delicate surface painters tape
across every 3 to 5 rows of planks approximately 2’ apart from one
another to hold the oor in place while the glue sets. Remove the
tape within 24 hours and clean any leftover adhesive residue with a
clean white cloth and mineral spirits.
• If any glue squeezes out of the seam and gets on the planks, allow
it to dry for 15 minutes and lightly scrape it away with a plastic
scraper or putty knife.
• Do not allow the glue to dry on the face of the ooring as it will be
very dicult to clean o without scratching the surface.
Steps for oating installation:
1. Use wooden wedges as spacers to establish the proper expansion
gap from the wall (which is equal to the ooring plank thickness). It
will be necessary to work from right to left and the rst plank
should be a full length board laid in the right hand corner of the
room. The rst row should start by facing the groove of the long
side against the wall (which means the groove side will be rmly
against the wood wedges).
2. After the rst plank is down, apply the glue to the short side along
the topside of the groove (which will be the rst plank that is
already down) and the bottom side of the tongue (which will be the
second plank). Slide the end tongue of the second plank into the
end groove of the plank already down.
3. Continue this method until the rst row is complete, cutting the
last plank to also account for the expansion gap. The row must
be straight, square, and tightly together (use a tapping block
where necessary) in order to establish the alignment for the rest of
the oor. Planks may require scribing and cutting to t any wall
curve/irregularities.
4. Start on the second row, ideally using a leftover plank from the rst
row cut to minimize wastage. End joints on adjoining rows should
be oset by no less than 6”. Align the plank and lock the side into
place against the rst plank in the rst row (the new second row